Haemanthus coccineus

Haemanthus coccineus, commonly the spotted bloodlily, is a deciduous, winter growing, bulbous perennial or geophyte reaching heights in flower up to 20 cm.

Spectacular scarlet flowerheads are produced on fleshy, erect stalks, the flowers surrounded by leathery bracts. Flowering happens at the end of summer or in autumn.

After the blooming, two or three tongue-shaped leaves appear that last through winter, the plants growing season. These leaves, varying in width, usually lie flat on the ground but may be semi-erect. Red leaf spots are sometimes present, as well as a red lower leaf surface. The leaves occasionally appear concurrently with the flower stalk.

The species grows in the Western Cape and to a lesser extent spreading coastally into the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape, slightly into southern Namibia near the coast.

The habitat is rocky slopes and coastal scrub, often forming large clumps. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Duncan, et al, 2016; Manning, 2009; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).